After struggling with a consistent pass rush, the Virginia football team's offseason focus on improving options in the defensive front seven continued Friday. The Hoos picked up another transfer portal commitment to address that area when Tennessee Tech's Daniel Rickert made the call for the Cavaliers.

Rickert announced his decision on social media.

Rickert spent his entire career to date at Tennessee Tech. He began his career in 2020-2021, which did not count due to the pandemic eligibility freeze. After a full season in 2021-2022, he played in only four games in 2022-2023, a redshirt season that allowed him a sixth season this coming fall.

The last two years with the Golden Eagles, Rickert has been a force on defense with 86 tackles and 16 sacks. He earned First-Team All-Big South-Ohio Valley Conference in both seasons. He picked up the Stats Perform FCS National Defensive Player of the Week recognition last November after a big game against then No. 18 UT Martin, the program's first over a ranked opponent since 2014. In that contest, he posted 9 tackles with 3.5 sacks with an additional 3 quarterback hurries, a forced fumble, and a pass breakup.

For his career, Rickert finished with 129 tackles with 19 sacks in 43 games.

That type of pass rush ability drew the Hoos' interest as they continue an offseason boost to the front seven. Rickert joins defensive transfers Jacob Holmes (Fresno State), Cazeem Moore (Elon), Hunter Osborne (Alabama), Mitchell Melton (Ohio State), Fisher Camac (UNLV), and Maddox Marcellus (Eastern Kentucky) in the defensive line and linebacker groups. Those portal pickups all seem targeted at making the defense more disruptive up front. The Hoos ranked 108th (tie) last season and 132nd (tied for last nationally) in 2023 for sacks. Holmes (8.5 sacks), Moore (13 sacks), and Camac (7.5 sacks) all have proven production so the Rickert pick-up further builds depth in that regard.

This is the fourth commitment in the spring transfer portal cycle for UVA. The Cavaliers also have added running back Isaiah Augustave (Colorado), Wallace Unamba (New Mexico/Kentucky), and Jordan Robinson (Cincinnati/Kentucky) as well during this window.

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